Farmar to try for NBA-NBDL double duty

Farmar, a rookie guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, became the
first player to play in a D-League game and NBA game on the same
day.

On Saturday night, Farmar was assigned by the Lakers to the Los
Angeles D-Fenders of the D-League, the NBA's developmental
league. But he was not phased by the feat.

"Even though no one has done it before, it wasn't that weird for
me," Farmar said. "It was fun."

He had 18 points and six assists in 40 minutes in the D-Fenders'
game against the Anaheim Arsenal on Sunday. Farmar then was
recalled by the NBA club after that game and collected four
points and four rebounds in seven minutes later that night.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson praised Farmar and said the double
duty was good for the rookie guard.

"Jordan was really aggressive," Jackson said. "He put the ball
in the basket a couple of times and made some good defensive
plays. I think it helped make him feel confident physically in
his body.

"Sometimes, you get disembodied or something when you sit on the
bench and watch and you're not participating, so I thought it
helped him out."

Both games were at the Staples Center. The NBDL game began at
5:30 p.m. EDT and the NBA game started at 9:30 p.m., giving
Farmar approximately about one hour to rest between contests.

Entering Sunday's game, Farmar has averaged 4.8 points in 62
games with the Lakers this season but had played just twice in
the last six contests. Although he had not played in the
D-League this campaign, Farmar was not insulted by being sent
down.

"The (Lakers) have got to send someone down to get more
comfortable, get more experience and get more playing time,"
Farmar said. "And I know that is the reason I went down. It
wasn't because I'm not an adequate player or that I can't play
at this level.

"It's just to help me out really, taking advantage of something
that was made for that reason. I was happy I got to get in with
the Lakers. That's my team, I play for the Lakers. The
D-League is there to aid me and help me contribute to this
organization."